They must be able to adapt and innovate with the pandemic

The Jakarta Research Council (DRD) has proposed an online bazaar to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) amid COVID-19 outbreak.

According to Faransyah Agung Jaya, Member of Jakarta DPRD Commission II, its implementation could be synergized with other digital programs such as, virtual tourism developed by the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Agency.

"They (UMKM) not only have a place of business, but are also able to promote products online to consumers. They must be able to adapt and innovate with the pandemic," he expressed, Tuesday (6/23).

He explained that online marketing had become a method that must be done in Jakarta, which is a solution to the reduction in trading activities.

"The pandemic nowadays has implications for various sectors, including UMKM. Even, when the PSBB is set in early March, their income dropped sharply, including because they had to close down business activities," he explained.

Seeing this case, his party together with the Industry Trade Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (PPKUKM) Agency made various efforts to help them.

"That is through entrepreneurship training thus they are still able to promote products online, despite they have closed their business," he explained.

His party also had sent a number of proposals from the results of applicative research to the Governor in order to help them. Some proposals included the e-Order system being developed thus the private sector can also use this system to purchase various UMKM's products under the Jakarta Provincial Government.

"We also request the socialization of the central government regulations related to the restructuring of loans of UMKM actors in banks to be intensified," he stated.